Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-13
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER l3, 1887.
Blaine Furls the Bloody SHIRT

results OF last week elections IN New
York became known that the bloody
shirt was evidently antiqusted-out of
date. We expressed ourselves, however,
as not inclined to believe that the Re
pubIicans could at this late day change
their tactics and, getting rid of BLAINE
and SHERMAN, go into the presidential
compaign and ask for the votes of the
people because of the politico-economi-
cal doctrines of their party.
We have accordingly watched with in
terest the course of the national organ
of Mr.. BLAINE. Its outgivings may be
accepted rs the outgivings of BLAINE
himself; and whatever it proposes to do
he proposes to do. The New York Tri-
6unc is Of course the paper to which we
refer. In its issue of Friday last it has
n half column editorial-not appearing
as the leader, but switched of into the
third or fourth column, which editorial
nav or may not foreshadow a change of
tactics on the part of Mr.. BLAINE. 1t
nav be that be does not consider it too
late TO furl the bloody shirt. At any
rate the Tribune states in rs few and as
emphatic words as could express his pur-
pose what the issue is to he. 1t says:
Protection is to he the issue, and
New Jersey is State in which that issue
/ =. pf #
success. The work for Republicans to
do is to organize thoroughly for educa-
lion of the voters in that State and IN
the southern States which have shown a
growing appreciation Of Republican
policies.
Ifthe Republican leaders had had sense
enough to drop all sectional issues twenty
years ago, and invite the southern peo-
pie to unite with the Republican party on
politico economical questions, the history
of the country might have been very
different from what it is. But we sub
nit that it is too late to attempt to play
that game upon the South after twenty
two years of such treatment at the hands
of the Republican party as no free peo-
pie can ever forget. Nevertheless, we
shall be glad to bury all sectional issues
and take the chances Of being beaten
upon such issues as ought to divide the
people OF this country into two parties
and the paragraph We have quoted above
seems to promise at least that much to
the long-persecuted South.
What has opened the eyes of the Ifi-
6une3 Nothing but the results of the
elections of last Tuesday. We quote
from the article we have already men,
tioned-as follows:
"Some political consequences OF the
late elections are sufficiently plain and
important to deserve immediate notice.
When the next presidential conventions
meet the delegates will be largely in-
Auenced in their judgment OF probabill-
ties by the election returns OF tins year.
Many of the explanations and excuses
which politicians now find satisfactory
will then have faded into unimportance.
The net results will stand and will form
the basis upon which prospects in the
different States will be estimated"
Just so. Flimsy excuses, charges of
fraud and of false counting, bulldozing,
and what not will not change the facts.
To point out how few votes would have
changed the results will be TO evoke
derisiye smile. As ex-senator PLATT
testified beforehand would be the case,
the result in New York land Maryland
and Virginia. as good as reelected
GROVER CLEVELAND. But New Jersey,
which voted for CLEVELAND, was lost to
the Democrats this year; and upon
this sinking foundation the Tribune
builds its hopes. After saying that
New York casts SO electoral votes and
the solid South 1913, leaving only II from
other States to insure Mr.. CLEvELAND's
reelection, and after dismissing Indiana
"a Democratic State that casts Is electo-
raj votes as likely to vote the Republi
can ticket next year, the Tribune adds:
"But the late elections have shown
that New Jersey can he carried by the
Republicans. The State gave only
4,300 plurality against Mr.. Blaine in
1884, and local elections have since
shown remarkable Republican gains. A
strong Republican Legislature has been
elected. which will take care that the
protection against fraud is not dimin-
ished."
If the Democrats carry New Jersey
and Connecticut they will not need
Indiana, let us say, by the way,
These are large estimates standing
upon a narrow base of probability.
However, il is the best the Tribune can
hope for, and so it tries to cheer up its
readers-as follows:
"These facts are certain TO have great
weight in the minds of Republican dele
gates IN the next national convention.
They will be powerfully influenced TO
select candidate who can command the
largest vote in New Jersey and who is
popular at the West. But the South
viii not be entirely overlooked. Recent
elections show that, although the Re
publicans have not yet succeeded in Vir-
ginia as they hoped, they have fight.
ing chance in that State. North Carolina,
West Virginia, and Tennessee. Success
in either of these, and at the West,
would bring a national victory. even if
the Republicans should fail TO carry
New York. Connecticut, or New Jersey.
The growth OF manufactures In southern
States, and ihe rapid movement of popu-
lation thither from the North, render
il possible that Democratic agitation for
free trade this winter may break the
hold OF that party upon some southern
States"
Upon these assumed facts the BLAINE
organ rests its hopes OF his success next
year, and upon the strength Of them
furls the bloody shirt, and adds, as if
speaking by authority, Protection is
10 be the issue"
Bow, let US hear from Field-Marshal |